C.S. Lewis

Writer

Get to Know More About Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis through Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Fr. Dwight Longenecker discusses the in-depth apologetics of C.S. Lewis, exploring how the theological insights and intellectual journey of Lewis have had a lasting impression on contemporary faith conversation. He also examines the Space Trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, emphasizing their ongoing significance in literature and spiritual contemplation. These works are notable for their deep narrative and allegorical depth. Here are the per week discussion titles:

The Christian Apologetics of C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy
The Chronicles of Narnia

C.S. Lewis Course

Approx. 2 hours and 57 mins. of content

First Week: The Christian Apologetics of C. S. Lewis

Fr. Longenecker explains Lewis’ biography by stating that he was born in Northern Ireland in 1898, and his Protestant background and personal traumas led him to initially reject religion. Following his service in World War I and his academic achievements at Oxford, he became close to Mrs. Moore and her daughter. Inspired by his love of mythology, he became a Christian in 1931 after a crucial discussion with Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien. Lewis wrote books and gave radio talks in an effort to explain the tremendous influence of the Christian message, which he saw as a “real myth.” He rose to prominence in Christian apologetics, defending traditional Christianity against modernist interpretations and tackling topics like the problem of pain and the defense of the supernatural.

Second Week: C. S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy

This talk delves into C.S. Lewis’s fantastical works, contrasting his traditionalist methodology with those of T.S. Poetry by Eliot, a modernist. The two authors eventually became friends and collaborated despite their early disagreements. Lewis’s early poetic setbacks drove him to experiment with new forms, and a great deal of his writing was influenced by Platonism. In addition, the talk explores Lewis’s critique of progressivism in “Out of the Silent Planet” and how its sequel, “Voyage to Venus,” draws thematically from biblical stories.

Third Week: The Chronicles of Narnia

Fr. Longenecker discusses about C.S. Lewis in the years following World War II, Lewis lived with Mrs. Moore and her daughter until Mrs. Moore passed away, fulfilling a promise he had made to a friend who had died. After that, he met Joy Davidman, and after some initial difficulties, they were married. Joy battled cancer until her death in 1960, which had a profound impact on Lewis. Concurrently, conversations arose over the complex storyline and Christian allegory of “The Chronicles of Narnia,” delving into topics of salvation and the method by which Lewis created his images. The talk also explored the connection between the Narnia series and the hierarchical organization of angels, providing an analysis of Lewis’s thematic objectives and arguing for a more thorough examination of his writings in addition to endorsing a newly established Catholic institution in Greenville.